March 05, 2005
That last two days have been very busy at work, and only moderately productive. Fortunately, there is a Russian saying that I like very much: the morning is wiser than the evening. At least I think it's Russian. I got it out of a Russian fairy tale that I used to read a lot when I was little. Anyway, after the stress of work, I'm now sitting outside on my dilapidated deck with my coffee and my computer. There is fog in the valley, and the birds seem very happy to have a break from the rain. Alan the Rooster is voicing instructions for a new day, and reminding me that they need food and water. The majestic redwoods tower up towards the foggy sky, but blue is peeking out in places.
When friends and well-meaning others puzzle over my choice of living environment, I just smile and think of my mornings on the deck, or even late nights with a canopy of starts overhead. When I lived in town I thought the stars had been mysteriously removed from the heavens. Well, except the ones that moved all the time, which turned out to be airplanes. It's not that I like being so remote from people, I just like being surrounded by nature. It's great to have the deer walk up to the house. I even like the coyotes that venture by, and one time we had a bobcat in the trees. I could do without the wild boar, though. He made a mess of the hillside. He left when I dug a ditch in one of the yards for a water project. I don't think he could stand the competition...
You see, I'm not looking for happiness as such. I think happiness is temporary, just as I hope sadness is. But peace is a feeling that can stay with you constantly. It's very peaceful here. Also, not having lived in town much, I have trouble finding ways in suburbia to encourage creative use of Annie's innate curiousity. There are so many things to investigate...
Wise in the Morning
When friends and well-meaning others puzzle over my choice of living environment, I just smile and think of my mornings on the deck, or even late nights with a canopy of starts overhead. When I lived in town I thought the stars had been mysteriously removed from the heavens. Well, except the ones that moved all the time, which turned out to be airplanes. It's not that I like being so remote from people, I just like being surrounded by nature. It's great to have the deer walk up to the house. I even like the coyotes that venture by, and one time we had a bobcat in the trees. I could do without the wild boar, though. He made a mess of the hillside. He left when I dug a ditch in one of the yards for a water project. I don't think he could stand the competition...
You see, I'm not looking for happiness as such. I think happiness is temporary, just as I hope sadness is. But peace is a feeling that can stay with you constantly. It's very peaceful here. Also, not having lived in town much, I have trouble finding ways in suburbia to encourage creative use of Annie's innate curiousity. There are so many things to investigate...
Fortunately, her interests have changed since she was a baby. She used to crawl around on a blanket in the garden during planting season. The blanket was too boring, so she would crawl/roll to the edge and pick up the manure that hadn’t been completely tilled under. But, hey, it was still part of the adventure.
Well, I’m off to leave my peaceful surroundings to help my aunt and uncle move some furniture in Santa Cruz. But I can always come home afterwards…
Wise in the Morning